Strip feeding apparatus



1 D l942- J J. F. FERM 03,

STRIP FEEDING "APPARATus Filed July 25, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 N i v mvsmox LIOHNF FEE/v1.

. g HBY ATTORNEYS 1, 1942. J. F. FERM STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1940 Illllllll mvmv-rox (lb/1N PIER/w.

. ATTORNEY S 19.42- J. F. FERM 2,303,533

STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed July 25. 1940 a Sheets-Sme t s r kjH/VFFEEM M 4 W41 ATTORNEY 3 J. F. FERM STRIP FEEDING APPARATbS Filed July 25, 1940 Dec. 1, 1942.

s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

I I BY MWYM ATTORNEY 6 Dec. 1, 1942.

J. F. FERM STR-IP FEEDING EAPPARA'IUS Filed July 25, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTOR FEE'M.

' ATTORNEYS JED-11v F Dec. 1, 1942. J. F. FERM 2,303,533

STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed July 25, 14o a Sheets-Sheet s J INVENTOR. 29' 1/2 ,JOHN F127? ATTORNEKS,

1942- J. F. FERN! STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 25, 1940 INVENTOR. L/OHN FFEEM. M M; w W

' ATTORNEY;

Dec. 1,-1942. I J, FERM- 2,303,533

STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1940 a Sheets-Sh ee t s INVENTOR.

JoH/v FIE-RM. BY

' Arrozazvm Patented Dec. 1, 1942 I STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS John F. Ferm, Midland, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Crucible Steel Company of America, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 25, 1940, Serial No. 347,427

17 Claims.

This invention pertains to apparatus for automatically guiding and maintaining in alignment, continuous and rapidly moving strip material, especially relatively thin, cold metal strip, such a; steel strip employed in tin plating and the 1 e. A

In the tin plating and brightening of steel strip in a continuous process, the strip must be fed over rollers at a relatively high rate of speed through an extensive assemblage of cleaning baths, scrubbers, plating baths, brightening apraratus, etc., varying in aggregate length, depending upon the installation, from a few hundred to as much as a thousand feet'or more, the strip being fed therethrough at rates ;-up to 200 feet or more per minute. In the absence of special guiding means, it would be impractical to eration.

Although various types of mechanical guides are known in which the impact of the stripagainst a contact or guide paddle furnishes the exclusive source of power or energy for adjusting the guiding mechanism, such types of guides are wholly impractical for use under the eondi-' tions and at the strip peeds above referred to, since the impact force required to thus mechanically adjust the guide is sufllcient to bend and l tear'the strip with the deleterious results above stated.

Thepresent y I invention provides automatic roller guides the strip back to substantially its normal and desired path. Such power means may be arranged to move the roller axis in either direction as required, under the control of means operated by and in approximate accordance with the drifting movements of the strip. The power means may comprise,for example, an hydraulic'piston operated by water or other fluid pressure under the control of valves which in.

turn may be opened and closed by contact'paddles responsive to the drifting movements. Preferably the arrangement is such that as the piston moves through a short distance in the process of correcting the drift of the strip, a follow-up device connected to the piston will act to shut off the hydraulic actuating pressure applied to the piston,

thereby to prevent any abnormal corrective movements of the guide roller and lateral hunting.

- 'tive movement of the control apparatus, the apparatus in effect automatically tests the results of such movement, and the movement is repeated in the same direction, only if the drift' of the strip is great enough to demand'such repetition. Moreover, according to the invention,

' as the strip is being restored to its normal path,

" the power means. as controlled by the position of guides in which power from angauxiliary source is employed automatically to adjust the guiding mechanism in response to an extremely slight impact of the strip against contact paddles disposed in opposite-sides thereof, the required im-' the strip, also acts to restore the 'uide roller to its normal position ready for a pier corrective movement in either direction.

Means other than a valve ctuated hydraulic piston may be employed as he auxiliary source of power foradjusting the strip guide roll. For example, a reversible electrical motor may be. usedv which is energized in one or the other directions of rotation as required, upon closure of mechanically actuated contactsclue to impact of pact being so slight that the strip can not be bent or injured or produce jamming in consequence of the impact. In accordance with the and normally at right angles to the desired direction of travel of the strip, and as the strip tends to drift to one side or the other, the axis of the roller in respect to the path of the strip is automatically varied by the auxiliary power source, from a normal right angle position to such an extent and in such direction that the the strip against the contact paddles; or the motor may be similarly energized by a pair'of photoelectric cells so arranged on oppostie sides of the strip respectively'that thestrip intercepts light beams directed onto the cells as the strip drifts to one side or the other of its normal path of travel. However, such arrangements do not operate so satisfactorily, particularly at high strip speeds; as the hydraulic piston arrangements'in accordance with. the preferred modifications of the invention described more in detail hereinafter.

Various further and more specificobjects, fea

tures and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description given below, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating merely by way of example certain 5 tively of Fig. 1; e

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a control valve arrangement and accompanying follow-up mechanis'm as embodied in the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view substantially along the line of Fig. 1; Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 'l and 9-9 of Fig. 8 respectively; 1

Fig. 10 is a plan view of an alternative em:

bodiment of the invention, and Fig. 11 a sectional, viewtaken substantially along the line of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Fig. 10 taken substantially along the line '|2|2Qs0 and Fig. 13 is a view looking toward the lefthand end of the apparatus of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line |4|4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken substantlally along the line|5|5 of Fig. 10; Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line- |6-|6 of Fig. 12; and Fig. 17 a sectional view taken along line I of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing parts of the mechanism of Fig. 16 in spaced relation; Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line |9-| 9 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 20 is a plan view of another alternative toward and contacts paddle 22, the operation of the mechanismissuchastoshift the axis cf the roller 2| toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1, and about a pivot point 35 as described hereinafter. This in turn will cause the roller to tend to guide the strip back toward the paddle 23; Conversely, if the strip contacts paddle 23, the operation of the mechanism is such as to shift the axis of roller 2| toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1, with a consequent tendency of the roller to guide the strip back toward the paddle 22. g

Referring now to the apparatus of Fig. 1 in further detail, the paddles 22, 23 are each supported upon arms, as at 21, formed with portions, as at 28, having oppositely threaded engagement respectively with a screw rod at 29. v The rod 29 is rotatably and slidably dournaled at one end in a bracket 39, while the other end of rod 29.is rotatable within a square sleeve 3|. The sleeve 3| is fixed against sliding in respect to the rod 29 by a shoulder 32 (Fig. 'l) on the latter for engaging one end of the sleeve 3|,

while at its other end the sleeve 3| abuts the hub of a hand wheel 33 fixed to the rod 29. The sleeve 3| is slidably mounted in a pair of bearing members as at 34, whereby-the paddles 22,

.23 and the members 29, 3| are slidable as a unit in either direction in response to drifting movements' of the strip 29 against either of the paddles. However, by turning the hand wheel 33, the rod 29 may be turned independently of the sleeve 3|, and thereby, due to the oppositely directed screw threads, provided on the rod 29, as shown, the spacing of the paddles 22, "may be adjusted to accommodate diflerent strip widths and also the tolerance spacing between the strip and paddles.

The bearing 30 is carried by a bracket bolted, as shown in Fig. 5, to suitable supporting plate members, as at 35, fixed to a side frame member 39 forming part of the processing apparatus, such as a plating bath framework, upon which the equipment is mounted. The bearing memembodiment of the apparatus; and Fig. 21 a sechers 34 may 8150 be fllx to suitable n pair of contact guide paddles 22, 23, and thence over a roller 24, the latter comprising one of the numerous rolls required for feeding or supporting the strip in its passage through the processing apparatus, such as a tin plating-bath, etc. 65

The roller 2| is normally so positioned that its under an idle roller 2|, and thence between aaxis will be substantially perpendicular to the the chambers at opposite faces of the piston 23.

normal path of 'travel of the strip 2|), as shown in Fig. 1, whereby" the strip will generally be; guided along such path without deflection to either side. However, when for, any reason the strip drifts to;one side of the rolls, such as 24, it will contact with either paddle 22 or 23, which in turn actuate a valve mechanism, indicated generally, at 25, for controlling the movement 5 of a piston 26, whichagain in turn, by mechanism hereinafter described, controls the trans- -verse position of the axisof the roller: 2|.

As shown, the strip. '29 is maintained in surto its new axial position. Thus 11 the strip drifts face contact with a substantial arc ofroller 2|. 7

ported during their slidable movement as by a pair of angle irons 39, 49 (Figs. 3, 5) also fixed in respect to the side frames.

The fluid for operating the piston 24 may comprise water supplied from a suitable source under 1 pressure through a flexible .pipe or hoseline 4| running to valves 42 and 43 (see particularly? Fig. 6)- and thence through flexible conduits 44 and 45 respectivehr, such as rubber hoselines, to

Liquid from said chambei's may be discharged respectively through similar flexible conduits 43, 41, valves 48, 49, to a flexible discharge pipe 'or hoseline "connected to waste or to pumping equipment for reusing the-water and supplying it under pressure to the pipe 4|.

Thus the valves 42, 43 and 49, 49 control respectively the supply and discharge of water under pressure for controlling the position of piston 28. These valves may be supported by metal pipe connections as at II .upon a supporting block 52, which in turn is flxed to a plate 33 slidably mounted in a guide member 54, the latter being flxed to the frame member 33. Except for the immediate supporting connections to the valves, the liquid conduits are made of rubber hose line or other flexible conduit so that 2,sos,oss

the four valves are free to slide with the support 52 and plate 52 as an assembled unit. That is, this assembly is slidable in directions parallel to the slidable rods 25 and II.

Four block members as at 55, 55, 51,52 (Figs. 6 and 7) are mounted upon the square rod 2i and affixed thereto at adjustable positions by set screws 59. Block member 55 is provided with a downwardly extending pin 60 (Fig. 8) for engaging operating lever II for valve 42. Similarly, the other block members are provided with pine 62, O2 and 24 for engaging respectively operating levers i5, i6, 51 for valves 42, 42 and 45.

Each of the above mentioned valves may be of a spring closed type'as shown in Fig. 9, and such that it is normally closed. Each of the valve levers ii, 55, 86 or 51 may be pivotally mounted as at 62 or 55 (Fig. 9), whereby when the lever is operated by its accompanying pin, it will press against a valve rod as at It for opening the valve to an extent depending upon the movement of the operating lever, and so long as the lever is held outof its normal position. I

Thus, for example, when the'metal strip 25 engages the paddle 22 and slides therods 22,

2| toward the left as viewed in Figs. 6, 7, the'pin' to operate the piston 28 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 1.

' As shown more particularly in Fig. 4, the piston 25 is located in a cylinder ll having cylinder heads 12, "within which inlet ports for hose ticularly in F188- 1 and 2., For adjusting the arms Ii, 82 carrying roller 2|, to a desired angular inclination, as shown in Fig. 2, the frame plate as to which the anchoring arm OI is bolted, is'provided with a series of arcuately spaced bolt holes 22, into any of which the bolt may be secured, in this way to fix the roller arms ll, '2

\ at the inclination desired.

lines 44, I5 and outlet ports for hose lines as, n 4

are located. A piston rod 14 extending'from one side of the piston 26, is secured to a slidable block 15 having a pivotal connection in turn as at 15 with a slidable bearing block 11 for, a shaft II. The members 15, 11 are slidably mounted in members", 2!, which in turn are bolted to the side frame 35 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The shaft 18 has fixed thereon a pair of supporting arms ll, 22 (Figs.'1, 2), for a shaft 82 upon which the guide roller 2i is rotatably mounted. The other end of the. shaft" is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis in a housing 24 by means of bolts 85, 85 extending through members 51, 58 comprising said housing. In this way, movements of the piston serve to change the position of shaft 12. from its normal right angle relationship to the path of travel of the strip 25, and as the alignment of shaft 12 isthus varied, the axis of roller 2| is correspondingly varied to different transverse positions'in respect to the strip 20 for guiding the strip back to its normal path.

In order to prevent the roller 2| from ridin .up or rotating about-shaft 18 due to the upward force exerted on the roller by thestrip 20, the shaft I8 is anchored against rotativemofvement by means of a lever arm 95 bolted as 'at 5| to the frame member 28, this lever aim being yond the frame member 22, as shown more par- ,Referring again to Figs. 1 and 4, the piston 28' is provided with another piston rod 54 threaded into a bar 25 slidably mounted in a housing 25 and having a pin and slot connection as at s (Fig. 6) with a plate 91 which is also slidably mounted in housing 25 and rigidly fixed as by an angle iron or rod 92 to the'plate member 52 which carries the valve supporting block 52. It will be observed that plate 51 is slidable in housing 25 in a direction at right angles to that of plate 05, and that the pin and slot coupling 55 between these two members is such as to shift plate 21 downwardly in Fig. 1 when piston 26 moves to the left and vice versa. This assembly is referred to herein as the follow-up" assembly or connection.

Accordingly, when the piston 26 moves, it will not only adjust the angular position of the guide roller 2| as aforesaid, but also through the follow-up connections above described, will shift the entire valve assembly in a direction to close the valves which were opened as above described by impact of the strip against one of the paddles 22 or 23. That is, assuming for example, the strip 22 in drifting, operates the lower paddle 22 to open valves 43 and 45, thereby moving piston 26 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, then the pin and slot-connection at 96 is such as to move the valve support 52 downwardly in Fig. 1, that is, in the 'same direction that the strip 20 drifted. This will carry the whole valve assembly including levers 56 and also downwardly-and away from pins 55, 52, thus closing or tending to close the valves 43 and 45 again. Hence as soon as the drifting of the strip operates the power means to adjust the position of the axis of roller 2|, before such adjustment can become excessive, the follow-up connections will stop .or tend to stop the movement of the piston26, by closing or tending to close the control valves. But if the drift of the strip is great enough, the strip will again contact paddle 22 and will cause these valves to be opened again or opened further, for a further adjustment of the roller 2!, but any such further adjustment will also be checked by the follow-up mechanism. In this way, the adjustment of the guide roller 2| takes place step-by-step in short.

steps to the extent necessary to cause the metal strip to start to drift back to normal position.

Thereupon the strip will engage and operate the opposite paddle and the valve assembly, piston and roller 2| will be moved step-by-step back to approximately their normal'positions. In this way, the guide roller 2i and its control. mechanism following each small movement, will act in effect to test the position of the rapidly. traveling metal strip and thereby either impart to the guide roller 9. more extreme adjustment, or re- I store it toward its normal right angle position in respect to the trip path. all to such an extent as may be required to effectively stabilize the longitudinal travel of the strip against any excessive sidewaysdrifting. Even though the strip may drift to one side very abruptly, the guide roller is so adjusted and kept under control as team'- rect this drift while obviating any excessive cor-l rection which might react to cause abrupt drifting in the opposite direction, or cause troublesome hunting of the strip to either side of its desired path.

Operation-Although the operation of the system shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inc.. has been touched upon in the detailed description of the various components given above, it will be briefly reviewed as follows: Assume that the strip 20, as it passes over rolls 2I and 24, drifts laterally against the contact paddle 22. Referring to Fig. 1, this will displace downward the entire assembly compris strip away from paddle 22 and to a higher position on roll 24, as viewed in Fig. l, as it passes thereover. Concurrently with this operation, the shift in piston 26 to the left will also shift the valve support 02, 53 downward in Fig. 1 owing to the follow-up linkage 04-to 90 inc. above described, thereby again closing valves 43, 48. If now the strip 20 again drifts against paddle 22, the above cycle of operations will be repeated, and

bearings, on shaft 03' supported by arms BI, 02',

which in turn, as shown in Fig. 11, are fixed to a shaft 10'; Whereas in Fig. 1, when the'position of the shaft I is adjusted, the shaft pivots about a vertical axis at one end of the shaft,

the shaft It in Figs. and 11 is arranged for pivotal movement about a vertical axis passing through its mid portion. That is, as shown in Fig. 10, the shaft I0 is journaledv at its axial center through a bearing 'I00 having arcuate side portionsas shown in Fig. 10, this bearing being rotatable within a bearing member IOI having two depending and corresponding arcuate portions I02. The member IOI is'bolted as shown to a cross beam I02 mounted at its ends upon the side frames of the machine. Withthis arrangement, the adjustments of the transverse position of the roller 2I' are effected about a vertical axis at the axial center ofthe roller rather than at the end as in Fig. 1, whereby the forces of the advancing strip upon the two ends of the roller are substantially equalized, even when the power operated piston alters the transverse position of the roller in either direction.

The lefthand end of the shaft I8 in Figs. 10 andll is journaled to a bearing member I04 mounted between upper and lower members I 05 the side frame of the machine. The bearing I04 is secured to members I05 by upper and lower continue to be repeated so long as the strip continues to drift against paddle 22, thereby to provide step-by-step correcting adjustment due to the operation of the follow-up mechanism. This step-by-step adjustment of the guide roll prevents overcorrection and hence hunting" of the apparatus, which is particularly important in the feeding of strip having slightly cambered edges formed when the strip is rolled or at welded junctions of, strips from successive coils, resulting from. the difficulty of perfectly aligning such strips upon effecting the junctions. Should, however, the strip drift against paddle 23, the corrective adjustment of the guid mechanism will be just theopposite to that above described. That is to say, the paddle and valve control assemblage 22, 22, 29, 2|, will shift upwardly as viewed in Fig. l, to actuate valve levers 0|, 61 and open valves 42, 49, thereby to apply pressure to the left side of piston 26 over supply line 44 and which are slidable in a housing I06 secured to studs I01, which also act as pivots for the bearing I04, permitting it to turn to the extent necessary when the shaft 10' is adjusted about its central vertical axis.' In order to adjust as required, the angular inclination of arms II, 02 and roller 2I' .in relation to strip 20 (see Fig. 12), shaft I8 is provided with a lever member 90' (Fig. 14) hav-' ing a pin at 0| for engaging various holes 02' in a depending plate 03' in a manner similar to the corresponding parts in Fig. 2. However, in this case as shown, the plate 93'- may be secured as at I08 to a protruding portion of the bearing mm- .torelease the pressure on the right side thereof 3 over discharge line 41, whereby the piston shifts the right as viewed in Fig. 1, and likewise shifts I the axis of the guide roll 2 I to the right about its pivotal support 05. This adjustment of roll 2I will cause the strip to be guided to a lower posi-.

tion, referring to Fig. l, as'it passes over roll 24. Concurrently with this operation, the movement 'of piston 20 will shift the valve support 52, 53

upwardly as viewed in Fig. 1, by virtue of the linkagemechanism $4 to 08 inc., thereby again to close valves 42, 49, this entire cycle oioperations bel .of course, repeated intermittently so long a? the strip 20 continues to drift against paddle etc. Y The modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 19, inclusive, except as-hereinafter noted, operates in general according to the same principles as above described, and parts which correspond in general function to those-of- Figs.

1 to 9, inclusive, are identified in Figs. 10'to19 by the same reference characters accompanied by prime marks.

As shown in Fig. 10, the guide roller 2| is her I04, I that on sliding movements of the bearing in the housing I06, the plate 93 will also move and the members 90', 0| will not interfere with such movements. s

The righthand end of the shaft 10', as shown a in Figs. 10, 11 and 15, is journ'aled ina bearing member I09 mounted within a yoke IIO slidable within a bearing housing In secured to the side frame 38 th apparatus. The bearing I 00 is pivotally onnected by pins 1 I2 to the yoke III so as to permit the axial alignment of shaft I0 to be adjusted as the yoke IIO slides. The yoke H0 is connected to a piston rod 14'in a manner similar to the corresponding connections of Fig.

4, and the other piston rod 94' is connected to slide bars 05' having a-pin and slot connection 96'. with a slidable plate 91' (Figs. 15, 10). The slidable plate 91, is rigidly connected as by a rod 98' to another plate II3 slidably mounted on the opposite side frame of the machine. A rotatable shaft 20' having oppositely threaded"portions'- as shown, igmounted in bearings 34' upon plate Ill and rotatably adjusted as by hand wheel 23' to vary the spacing ofvthe paddles 22", 23', with which the edges of the metal strip contact. The

manner in which these paddles and the accomvalve structurear supported and arranged on shafts 20', 00' will be described in further' detail In connection with Figs. 16 to 19.

- The righthand end of the shaft 20' is mounted in a bearing 30' on plate 01. in a manner so thatrotate, preferably with anti-friction the shaft is' free to turn as well as slide'in re- :gect to said plate upon turning the hand wheel Referring now to the valves and connections for controlling the admission and discharge of water to the piston 26', it will be noted that four valves 42', 43', 40', 49' are provided with accompanying' inlet and drain line connections 4 I 50' and with connections 44, 45', 46' and 41' to the cylinder 1|, for operating thevalves in a manner similar to the corresponding valves of Fig. 1. However, in Fig. 10, valves 42', 49' and 43', 48 are mounted in pairs on opposite sides of the strip, on supporting blocks 1 I4, H5 having threaded engagement with the shaft 29, whereby upon turning the hand wheel 33, .the spacing of the two pairs of valves may be adjusted to acv commodate various metal strip widths.

The valve structure at the righthand side of Fig. and the accompanying connections for operating the same by the paddle 23' will now be described in connection with Figs. 16. to 19, it being understood that the valvestructure at the lefthand side of Fig. 10 is the same. The valve supporting block H5 is carried upon a plate member I I6, which plate member is also fixed to a supporting block II1 slidably embracing the shaft 98'. A pair of supporting posts H8, H9 are mounted upon the plate I I6 for. carrying pivotal supporting means for an arm I which in turn carries the paddle 23". Said pivotal supporting means, as best shown in Fig. 19, comprises a shaft I2I fixed transversely of the arm I20 and carried by a pair of pivot screws I22, I23,

mounted in the supports H8, H9 respectively. Pivotal movement of the paddle 23' toward the right may belimited as by a set screw I24 forbearing against plate II6.

Upon pivotal movement of the paddle 23 toward the left, as occurs when the metal strip 20 drifts sideways toward such paddle, a pair of set screws as I25, I26 at the upper end of arm I20, will engage valve stems 10' for valves 42', 49', thus opening thesevalves and causing fluid to be admitted to the lower face of piston 26' (Fig. 10) and fluid to be discharged from the upper face of such piston. Thus the piston will travel in a direction to change the alignment of roller 2I' for guiding the strip 20 back to its normal path. At the same time the piston 2| will through actuation of slidable members 95', 91' and H3, serve to slide the rodv 29' toward the right as viewed in Fig. 10 (toward the left as viewed in Fig. 16). This movement of the rod 23' will carry with it the assembly of valves and supporting structure for the paddle 23' toward the left as viewed in Fig. 16. Accordingly the pressure of the moving strip 20 against the paddie 23' will be relieved and the valves 42', 49'

will close again or tend to close.

Similarly, when the metal strip 20 engages the paddle 22, the valves 43', 48' will be properly actuated to change the alignment of the roller 2 I in a direction to guide the strip back to its normal path. And as in the embodiment of the invention first above described, as the strip 20 is being. guided back to its normal path, the roller 2l' will also be restored to its normal position substan-- tially at right angles to the normal path of the strip. As in the other example of the invention, the movements of the piston 26 and roller 2I' take place step-by-step in small steps whereby the condition of the guiding apparatus is in effect automatically tested step-by-stepand extreme or excessive movements'of the roller 2| and "hunting" efiects in the control equipment are avoided.

but'difiers somewhat as to construction, principally as regards the follow-up mechanism which substitutes a bell-crank I30 arrangement for the pin-and-slot mechanisms 95, 96, 31, etc., of the previous modifications. In Figs. 20, 21, the guide roll 2 I pivots about its axial center in identically the same manner as in Figs. 10, 11, its mounting being the same as shown by the'similarly designated components and as previously described. In Fig. 20, shaft 18' pivotally supporting the guide roll 2t, is, as previously, actuated at its righthand end by the hydraulic piston 26' through the piston rod 14 and pin connection I I2 to shaft 18' aspreviously explained, whereby displacement of the piston rotates the shaft about its pivotal support. At its lefthand end, shaft 18' is, as previously, pin-connected as at I01 to member I05 slidable within housing I06 fordis'placing member I05 in conformity with rotary movements of shaft 18'.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 21, the strip 20 .to be guided, passes between guide paddles 22',

are threaded respectively to the oppositely threaded portions I44, I45, of shaft 29', for adjusting the spacing of the guide paddles 22', 23' by means of the hand-wheel 33'.

Each of the supports I31, I38 carries a pair of valves 43, 48 and 42', 49', similar in construction to those previously described, valves 42', 43 being supplied with water or other fluid under pressure from flexible pressure hoselines 4 I which is conveyed thence to the lower and upper chambers of piston 26' over hoselines 44, 45' respectively. Conversely, fluid discharged from the opposite chamber of the piston is disharged over flexible hoselines 46', 41' and through valves48', 49' respectively to drain lines 50'.

The valves are actuated by means of their as-' sociated valve rods 10' which project toward the outer faces of the hinged guide paddles in such relation as shown, that impact of the strip 20' against either paddle 22' or 23'- will, by swinging the same about its hinged support- I33 or I34, actuate valve pair 43', 48' or 42', 49', as the case may be. Actuation of such a valve pair will in turn open a passage from the supply line 4| to one chamber of the piston 26 and simultaneously open a passage from the opposite chamber thereof to the drain line 50', the connections being such as shown that when the strip engages paddle 22', the piston will move downwardly to swing the guide roll clockwise about In order, however, to prevent this corrective action from proceeding to such an extent that the strip after engaging'one guide paddle will be directedby the guide roll against the opposite" guide, such as would cause hunting, the bellcrank linkage I30 is brought intoplay to provide the above-mentioned follow-up operation. *To

this end, the bell-crank is pivotally secured at I46 to astationary supporting member I41, one arm roll about its pivotal support I as above described. The remaining arm I50 of the bellcrank is pin-connected at ISI to one end of a link member I52 having its opposite end pinconnected at I 50 to shaft 29', whereby rotation of the bell-crank about its fixed pivot point I46 correspondingly shifts shaft 20' and with it the guide paddles 2'2, 23' hingedly supported thereon by members I31, I38 as explained.

Operation of the bell-crank linkage to provide follow-up actuation is as follows: Assuming that strip 20' drifts against paddle 22' to. actuate valves 43', 48', by hing'ed displacement or the paddle against their associated valve stems I0, the guide roll will be rotated clockwise as above explained, tending thereby to guide the strip away from paddle 22'. The accompanying roasoacss vancing metal strip against sideways drifting, a roller pressing against the strip and against the surface of which roller the strip forms a loop, supporting meansfor said roller, angularly ad- Justable about an axis generally parallel to but spaced substantially from the roller axis, where by the position of the roller may be varied to vary the included angle of the loop, and means tation of shaft I0 will displace member I05 up wardly and thereby rotate the bell-crank I30 counterclockwise about its fixed pivot point I. Arm I50 will accordingly be displaced to theleft and with it shaft 29' carrying the valve sup ports ll'l, I38. Valves 43', 4'' will thus be backed away from paddle 22- which tends to hang vertically by virtue of its hinged support I33, whereby these valves close again to prevent further movement of the guide roll, etc. If the initial correction does not suflice, the strip will continue to drift against paddle 22', causing this sequence of operations to be repeated until the correction is adequate. The opposite sequence of operations will of course occur assuming the strip to drift against the opposite paddle 23'. I

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically guiding rapidly advancing continuous strip material along a given longitudinal direction of travel, comprising: a pivotally supported roller over which the strip is fed, laterally displaceable contact mem-- bers disposed on each side of the strip, and P wer actuated means responsive to impact of the strip against either of said contact members for pivoting said roller to guide said strip in a direction slightly away from that producing said contact, said means including an hydraulic piston for controlling the axial position of said roller-(nor mally closed spring valve means selectively actuated by said contact members for selectively displacing said piston in opposite directions, and follow-up means responsive to displacement of said piston for releasing the so actuated valve means. .2. Apparatus for automatically guiding rapidly advancing continuous strip material along a given longitudinal direction of travel, comprising: a pivotally supported roller over which the strip is fed, laterally displaceable contact memhere o'ir-each side of the strip, and power for automatically varying the angular position of the supporting axis in respect to the normal line of travel of the strip, whenever the strip drifts to one side or the other, whereby the position of the roller axis is likewise varied, in a. direction to cause the roller .to guide .and restore the strip toward its normal line of travel.

'4. In apparatus for controlling a rapidly advancing metal strip against sideways drifting, a pair of members for contacting respectively with the sides of the strip upon such drifting, a rotatvancing metallstrip againstsideways drifting, a-

pair of members for contacting respectively with the sides of the strip upon such drifting, means for supporting said members for slidable movement upon the occurrence of such drifting, means for variably guiding the strip in respect to its normal path, control means for such guiding means, operatively connected for actuation by the slidable movements of said supporting means. and means for movably supporting said control means, operatively connected to said guiding means, whereby operation of the guiding means moves said last named supporting means to'modify said actuagon of the control means.

6. In apparatus for controlling a rapidly advancing metal strip against sideways drifting, fluid pressure operated means for guiding the strip in either directiondn respect to its normal path, a plurality of valves for controlling said means to operate same in either direction, a supmeans for movement in either ofrtwo directions,

depending upon the direction of operation of the actuated means responsive to impact of the strip against either of said contact members for Divoting said roller to guide said strip in a direction slightly away from that producing said contact, said means including an hydraulic piston for controlling the axial position of said rolier.,valve means operated by one contact member for disgulding means, and means oper'ted by sldeways' drifting of the strip for so actuating said valves as to operate the guiding means in a direction to counteract the' .drift, and/whereby the consequent movement of the valve support by the guiding means also tends to restore the valves to normal condition,

v. strip guiding apperatiis comprising: a pivotally supported guide and a pair of displaceable vanes along and between; which the strip is fed respectively, means including a pressure-actuated piston and valves selectively actuated by placement of either of said vmes due to contact justing said guide about its pivotalsupport, and

. a follow-up member displaceable by said piston placing said piston in one direction, other valve meansoperatedbythe other contact member for displa g said piston in'the opposite direction, and means responsive'to' t of said piston when so actuated for releasing the valve means producing said actuation.

3. In apparatus for controlling a ad'- is for releasing the valves so actuated.

8.'B trlp guiding apparatus comprising: a, centrally pivoted guide and a pair of displaceable vanes, along and between whichthe strip is fed respectively, means including a pressure-actuated piston and valves selectively actuated by displeccmentofeitherofsaidvsnesduetoccna member swingably mounted on said support for tact of the strip therewith, for compensatively adjusting said guide about its pivotal support." and a follow-up member displaceable by said' piston for releasing the valves so actuated.

9. In combination with a fluid pressure reversibly operable piston for controlling drifting of a metal strip sideways in either direction during longitudinal movement of the strip, valve means for turning on or oif a source of the fluid pressure for operating said piston in either direction, members for contacting the sides of the strip,

I means operatively connected to said members for actuating said valve means to turn on said pressure to actuate the piston in one direction or the other depending upon the directionof drift of the strip, movablesupporting means for said valve means, and follow-up connections between the piston and said movable supporting means whereby such actuation of the piston tends to restore the valves to normal condition and stop the piston, and then to reactuate the valve means to cause reverse movement of the piston and of the valve supporting means during-restoration of the strip to its normal path.

10. In combination with a'fluid pressure reversibly operable piston for controlling drifting of a metal strip sideways in either direction during longitudinal movement of the strip, a pair of valves for controlling the admission and discharge of the fluid respectively to and from opposite sides of the piston for operating said piston in one direction, an independent pair of valves for similarly controlling the operation of the piston in the other direction, a pair of members for respectively contacting opposite sides of the strip'upon the drifting of same, means movable by and in accordance with movements of said members for actuating one pair of said valves when the strip drifts to one side and for actuating the other pair of said valves when the strip drifts in the opposite direction, a support for said valves movable in directions toward and contacting the strip edge upon drifting of the strip and for then actuating said valve means, and a follow-up connection between the piston and said support for moving said support in a direction away from the strip edge, upon movement of the pistonunder control of said valve means.

-'members to accommodate strips of various away from said actuating means, and afollow-up connection between the piston and said support whereby movement of the piston in either direction tends to cause the valves effecting the latter movement to be carried out of actuating relationship with said actuating means.

11. In combination with a fluid pressure reversibly operable piston for controlling drifting of a metal strip sideways in either direction during longitudinal movement of the strip, a pair of normally closed spring valves at one side of the strip for respectively controlling the admission and discharge of the fluid to and from opposite sides of the, piston for operating said piston in one direction, and another pair of such valves at the other side of the strip for similarly controlling the operation of the piston in the other direction, a pair of swingable members for respectively contacting opposite sides of the strip uponthe drifting of same and for them .respectively actuating one of the pairs of valves, and a follow-up connection between said piston and said pair of members, whereby movement of the piston in either direction tends to cause the K member which initiated such piston movement to be carried out of contact. with the strip while tending to carry the other said member toward.

means on said support forcontrolling the piston,

13. In apparatus for controlling a; rapidly advancing metal strip against sideways drifting, a

pairof members for contacting respectively with the sides of the strip upon such drifting, supporting means for each of said members, a rotatable rod extending transversely of the grip and connected to said supporting means respectively through oppositely directed screw threads whereby rotation of the rod adiusts the position of said widths, means for slidably supporting said rod, fluid pressure operated means for variably guiding the strip in respect to its normal path, and valve means for controlling such guiding means, operable by the movements of said supporting means resulting from contact of said members with the strip.

14. In apparatus for controlling a rapidly advancing metal strip against sideways drifting, a pair of members for contacting respectively with the sides of the strip upon such drifting, means for supporting said members for movement transversely of the strip upon the occurrence of such drifting, means including a piston operated by fluid pressure for variably guiding the strip in respect to its normal path, valve means for controlling movements of said piston, operatively associated with said supporting means for actuation by movements of said members upon conthreaded shaft carrying a hand wheel for adjustably positioning said guides in equal incre-' I ments, and means including a pressure-actuated piston and valves selectively actuated by displacement of either of said vanes due to contact of the strip therewith for compensatively adjusting said guide about its pivotal support, said valves respectively being mounted adjacent said vanes and also adjustably positioned by said shaft.

16. Strip guiding apparatus comprising: a pivotally supported guide and a pair of displaceable vanes along and between which the stripis 7 fed respectively, and means including a pressureactuated piston and quick-acting, spring-controlled valves selectivelyactuated by displacement or either of said vanes due to contact of the strip therewith for compensatively adjusting said guide about its pivotal support.

17. In combination with a fluid pressure reversibly operable mechanism for controlling sideways drifting of a metal strip during rapid longitudinal movement of the strip, valve means for turning on or off a source of the fluid pressure for operating said mechanism in either direction, a member for contacting with one side of the strip and operatively connected-to .said valve means to turn on said fluid pressure upon such drifting of the strip toward said side,

- another memher for contacting with the other side of the strip and operativeiy connected to the valve means to turn on fluid pressure to operate themechanism in the reverse direction,

upon drifting oi the strip against the latter member, and a follow-up connection between said members and said mechanism, so construoted and arranged that the mechanism upon mechanism, and then to reverse said mechanism v and the movement oi. said members durin: restoration or thestrip to its normal path.

J OHN F. FERN. 

